A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe classic line up at CBGBs famously went into reverse in terms of the band's record sales. Headliners Television had one album which just scraped the Billboard 100 then disappeared, and their sequel Adventure sold poorly. The Ramones had hits and solid album sales, but less than the band below them on the bill, Talking Heads. Bottom of the bill were a band described by the New York Times as a gimmick band who would never sell, despite their moderately 'applealing" lead singer. They were called Blondie, one of the biggest selling bands in pop history.
- GoofsSeveral shots show the corner of Bleecker Street and the Bowery. The street signs have white letters on a green background. In the 1970s, Manhattan street signs had black letters on a yellow background.
- Quotes
Hilly Kristal: [Being introduced to the Ramones] What do you guys have for me?
Joey Ramone: We got four songs. I don't wanna walk around with you, I don't wanna be learned, I don't wanna be tamed and I don't wanna go down to the basement.
Hilly Kristal: Lot of things you don't wanna do.
- Crazy credits"This film is dedicated to... Hilly Kristal and all those who worked at and lived at CBGB. MAY THEY ROCK ON FOREVER! No animals were harmed during the making of this film... The cockroach guts were Fig Newtons. And we know that Iggy Pop never played at CBGB... Just deal with it."
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Biopics That Got It Wrong (2020)
- SoundtracksKick Out the Jams
Written by Michael Davis, Rob Tyner (as Robert Derminer), Wayne Kramer, Fred 'Sonic' Smith (as Frederick Smith), Dennis Thompson (as Dennis Tomich)
Performed by MC5
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
Featured review
From the director of Bottle Shock comes another love letter to the 1970s: CBGB. If you have no idea what that means, or if you know what it means but don't know what the letters stand for, you'll be very entertained by this movie. Full of literally dozens of songs from 1970s rock and grunge bands, it's a must-see for classic rock lovers. As you listen to Television, Blondie, The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, The Stooges, The Ramones, The Police, and countless others, you'll get to see modern actors dressed up and lip-synching to their songs!
CBGB is a New York nightclub started by Hilly Kristal, played by a hilarious wigged-out Alan Rickman. His dive bar isn't paying his bills, so he transforms it into a nightclub where people can chill out and listen to "Country, Blue Grass, and Blues" bands. It gets turned into a hot spot where undiscovered punk bands play before they become famous. The beautiful Malin Akerman plays Debbie Harry, Taylor Hawkins plays Iggy Pop, Joel David Moore plays Joey Ramone, and countless others perform in a sort of "candid camera" that shows behind-the-scenes fun as well as performances from "way back when". This film completely captures the 1970s music scene, and the colors, lighting, incredibly grungy interior design, costumes, and wigs make it feel like a time capsule. If you know your bands, you'll get even more out of the humor, and if you don't, you'll just get a kick out of Alan Rickman's hilarious scenes with his mother, Estelle Harris, and his scenes with a grown up Rupert Grint. There's a lot to love about this tribute to the 1970s, but if you don't like that decade, don't even think about renting it.
CBGB is a New York nightclub started by Hilly Kristal, played by a hilarious wigged-out Alan Rickman. His dive bar isn't paying his bills, so he transforms it into a nightclub where people can chill out and listen to "Country, Blue Grass, and Blues" bands. It gets turned into a hot spot where undiscovered punk bands play before they become famous. The beautiful Malin Akerman plays Debbie Harry, Taylor Hawkins plays Iggy Pop, Joel David Moore plays Joey Ramone, and countless others perform in a sort of "candid camera" that shows behind-the-scenes fun as well as performances from "way back when". This film completely captures the 1970s music scene, and the colors, lighting, incredibly grungy interior design, costumes, and wigs make it feel like a time capsule. If you know your bands, you'll get even more out of the humor, and if you don't, you'll just get a kick out of Alan Rickman's hilarious scenes with his mother, Estelle Harris, and his scenes with a grown up Rupert Grint. There's a lot to love about this tribute to the 1970s, but if you don't like that decade, don't even think about renting it.
- HotToastyRag
- Jun 13, 2019
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $5,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $40,400
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,909
- Oct 6, 2013
- Gross worldwide
- $40,400
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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